Balak 24:11 · EXTRA 1 — flee to your place
Parashas Balak · EXTRA · Passuk 24:11 · Bamidbar Rabbah
The Complete Passuk
וְעַתָּ֖ה בְּרַח־לְךָ֣ אֶל־מְקוֹמֶ֑ךָ אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ כַּבֵּ֣ד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֔ וְהִנֵּ֛ה מְנָעֲךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִכָּבֽוֹד׃
And now, flee to your place; I said I would surely honor you, and behold, Hashem has held you back from honor.
Source Citation
Bamidbar Rabbah 20:21 — Balak dismisses Bilam without the promised honor.
Sefaria — Bamidbar Rabbah 20
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
בְּרַח לְךָ אֶל מְקוֹמֶךָ — אָמַר לוֹ: אָמַרְתִּי לְכַבֶּדְךָ, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְנָעֲךָ מִן הַכָּבוֹד. צֵא מִכָּאן בְּבוּשָׁה.
English: “Flee to your place” — he said to him: I said I would honor you, and the Holy One has held you back from honor. Leave here in shame.
Type of Learning
Narrative close of the failed mission of curse.
What Is Learned
The honor Balak promised is withdrawn by Heaven itself — Bilam departs not enriched but exposed.